Chinese experts explain why India and Russia jointly develop FGFA

FGFA fighter promise to be a big step forward for Indian Air Force. Source: sukhoi.org

Chinese television asks Chang Hu, the editor of a military magazine, and his colleague about Indo-Russian cooperation in military aviation

Russia has announced its priorities for the export of arms where India is the key priority. Currently, Russia
and India
are jointly developing the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).
Recently, the Indian Air Force reported the plans to purchase more than 200
FGFA fighters.

On October 8, the Indian Air Force organized
an exhibition and demonstration flights at the base near New Delhi to celebrate the 79th anniversary
of the national Air Force. It was announced that the Air Force would buy 214
FGFAs, including 166 single-seat and 48 twin-seat models. The twin-seat
fighters will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

Chang Hu, the editor of a military magazine,
and his colleague were invited to the studio of the Chinese television CCTV.
They answered a number of questions.

What is the FGFA fighter?

It should be a fighter developed in line with
the highest world standards. India’s
technological base is very weak, therefore Russia would do the bulk of this
work. Russia
has already developed a prototype aircraft (the T-50 project), which is
undergoing flight tests.

Then why can’t Russia
sell these fighters to India?
Why do they need this joint development?

In fact, the T-50 is still under development. Russia showed
the fighter at the MAKS 2011 air show. It was clear that the aircraft’s design
is "rough" with a lot of seams and joints. India’s participation can cover a
significant share of funding for this project. Currently, India has to
make the choice between the two European fighters - Typhoon or Rafale – to buy
126 fighters for the Air Force. Given the difficult economic situation in
Europe, India
can succeed in "extorting"
technologies. For example, these aircrafts have very good avionics and India can
become a "consolidator" of European and Russian technologies in the
FGFA project.

According to the Indian Air Force, the country hopes
to get this fighter as early as 2017, that is, it would take only six years to develop
it.

In fact, the entire technological platform of
this aircraft will be developed in Russia. However, the T-50 is rather
a technology demonstrator and it will take a lot of time to get the real
fighter. The Russian Air Force reported this fighter would be adopted in 2015,
which is hard to believe. Moreover, if the Indian Air Force gets this fighter
in 2017 then India
can adopt it even faster that the Russian Air Force. Probably, India will be
the second test site for the T-50.

It is known that the USA
does not export the F-22, then why does Russia allow another country access
to the latest technologies?

I think the first reason is that India poses no threat to Russia. Second,
this aircraft’s design is still far from the desired level. The T-50 has on-board
equipment but a lot has still to be created, for example, a digital data bus
similar to the American 1553B. Russia
lags behind in this area but France
can share a similar technology with India if the Rafale fighter wins
the tender.

So, India can consolidate the French
and Russian military technologies in the new fighter. India has a
special way of military thinking – it wants to get ready-made products not
bothering to develop new ones.

But India
will again be dependent on foreign technology ...

I think the participation in the development
of modern aircraft would be useful for India since the country needs
designing experience. The FGFA project is a rare opportunity to gain experience
in this field.

So, can India become the owner of the
latest technology?

Yes. It will be a big step forward. India will be
one of the few countries in the world with its own fifth-generation fighter.

If all goes as planned, can India
surpass the US
in the number of heavy fifth-generation fighters?

That’s true.

How will this factor affect the situation in the
Asia-Pacific?

India has approved the 11th
five-year plan, during which 214 fifth-generation fighters must be adopted. In
fact, everything depends on the Indian Air Force funding.

But this period is too short to produce so many
fighters.

That’s right.

Another question. Today, India
can purchase military systems from Western countries including the United States.
But Russian weapons still account for 70% of India’s military arsenal. Why does India continue to
prefer Russian weapons?

First, it is because of the relative cheapness
of Russian military hardware and equipment. Second, Russia is willing to transfer much
more technology than Western countries. India uses this situation to
diversify arms purchases thus achieving greater independence in the sources of
weapons. For example, India
buys the C-130 and C-17 transport aircraft in the United States.